Tagged: Adrian Sutil

Only team-mate Mark Webber could stop Sebastian Vettel from recording a perfect weekend this afternoon in Japan, as the young German romped clear from pole position to win his third race of the season, leading every lap of the race in the process. Had it not been for Webber’s late pitstop for new tyres on low fuel, Vettel would also have recorded fastest lap, but more significantly his 10 points and Brawn’s struggle to 7th and 8th means he remains in title contention with just two races remaining.

From the start, Vettel was challenged strongly by the KERS-boosted Lewis Hamilton, and after successfully fending him off, was never again under pressure for the lead. With more fuel on-board than his nearest rivals, he kept the lead even during the pitstops, and shrugged off a late-race safety car period to record a comfortable five-second victory.

Sebastian Vettel will start from pole position in tomorrow’s Japanese Grand Prix after an action-packed qualifying session at Suzuka this afternoon. The scheduled qualifying hour was delayed by three red flag periods courtesy of three separate crashes in Q2 and Q3, eventually ending half an hour late.

With Red Bull’s Mark Webber having been ruled out of qualifying after damaging his chassis in final practice, just four drivers would be eliminated in Q1. After a largely trouble-free session for most drivers, Giancarlo Fisichella (1m31.704s) dropped out at the first hurdle for the second successive time, followed closely by home hero Kazuki Nakajima (1m31.718s) who was unable to turn local knowledge into a Q2-worthy laptime.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber secured his maiden pole position for tomorrow’s German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring this afternoon, in what was a hugely entertaining and highly unpredictable qualifying. Rain mid-way through the qualifying hour caused chaos throughout the pitlane, before things finally settled down at the end of Q3 when pacesetters Red Bull and Brawn rose to the top of the timesheets.

Qualifying for the Turkish Grand Prix saw Sebastian Vettel claim the pole position for the Red Bull Renault team ahead of the dominant Brawn Mercedes duo of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. Behind there were a few surprises such as McLaren struggling more than expected and BMW Sauber picking up the pace with the new aero package.

Jarno Truli led Toyota’s first ever front row lock-out in qualifying. He set the benchmark at Q3 with 1m33.431s and comfortably beat his team-mate Timo Glock who suffered from a mechanical failure during morning’s practice session. Vettel who was the fastest at Q2 with only one flying lap secured 3rd position for tomorrow’s race.

Button from Brawn GP was fourth fastest who admitted they are no longer ahead. He closely followed by Lewis Hamiton who is hopeful for a podium finish for tomorrow’s race thanks to their updates. Rubens Barrichello was sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso who is seventh. Felipe Massa set the eight fastest time in Q3 with a last minute attempt. Nico Rosberg was ninth and Kimi Raikkonen was 10th after and encouraging fifth position at Q2 session.

First practice sessions for the fourth race of the season has been completed today. Nico Rosberg topped the time sheets at second practice while Lewis Hamilton was fastest at first session. Conditions very were hot and windy. Track was very dusty at the beginnings of both sessions. As this circuit is the first hard braking circuit of the year, teams worked mainly on the brakes and we have seen many lockouts from drivers especially at turn 1 and turn 10. Teams evaluated the available tyre compounds for the race as usual on a Friday. Most of the teams struggled to heat their prime tires while the option tires seemed better.

Teams will study the data that they have collected today and will be ready for tomorrow’s free practice session. As the competition is very close it will be interesting to see who will make it to Q3 tomorrow.

BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica and Toyota’s Jarno Trulli on their dramatic collision; Force India’s Adrian Sutil on being less than six laps from scoring his team’s first points; and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber on their spectacular one-two victory. All 20 drivers and senior team personnel report back on Sunday’s race…